Düsseldorf is Germany’s fashion and advertising capital, a wealthy Rhine River city of 650,000 that combines a medieval Altstadt (Old Town) with the luxury shopping boulevard of Königsallee and the world’s largest Japanese community in Germany. The city is walkable, green, and culturally richer than its business-first reputation suggests.
Top Things to Do in Düsseldorf
Altstadt (Old Town): The Longest Bar in the World
Düsseldorf’s Altstadt packs roughly 260 bars and restaurants into half a square kilometer along the Rhine, earning its nickname ‘the longest bar in the world.’ The area centers on Bolkerstrasse, Ratinger Strasse, and Kurze Strasse. The key drink is Altbier, Düsseldorf’s top-fermented dark beer, served in 0.25L glasses (around 2.20 EUR each) at five traditional brewpubs: Uerige (Berger Strasse 1), Schumacher (Oststrasse 123), Fuchschen (Ratinger Strasse 28), Schlosser (Burgplatz), and Kürzer (Kurze Strasse 18). The Altstadt also holds the Burgplatz with the Schloss Tower (Schlossturm, the only remaining part of the 13th-century castle, now housing the Maritime Museum, 4 EUR, open Tuesday-Sunday 11:00-18:00) and the St. Lambertus Basilica with its twisted spire.
Königsallee (Kö) Luxury Boulevard
The Königsallee, universally called the Kö, is Düsseldorf’s premier shopping street, a 1km boulevard flanking both sides of a canal lined with chestnut trees. The east side holds luxury brands (Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Cartier). The west side is more mid-range. The canal itself has bridges and benches. The Kö-Graben, the moat at the northern end, has swans that are a Düsseldorf symbol. The Kö is an 8-minute walk from the Altstadt. Even if you’re not shopping, the boulevard is Düsseldorf’s most photogenic street, especially in spring and autumn.
Rheinturm (Rhine Tower)
The Rheinturm at Stromstrasse 20 is Düsseldorf’s tallest structure at 240.5 meters, built in 1981. The observation deck at 168 meters offers 360-degree views of the Rhine, the Altstadt, and on clear days as far as Cologne Cathedral, 40km south. The deck has a small cafe. Entry costs 9 EUR adults, 7 EUR students and seniors. Open daily 10:00-23:30. The tower’s shaft displays the world’s largest digital clock, formed by lights that function as a decimal time display. The tower is a 15-minute walk from the Altstadt along the Rhine promenade.
Kunstsammlung NRW (Art Collection of North Rhine-Westphalia)
The Kunstsammlung NRW is split across two buildings: K20 (Grabbeplatz 5) for 20th-century art and K21 (Ständehausstrasse 1) for contemporary art in a former parliament building. K20 holds one of Germany’s best collections of modern art with works by Picasso, Klee, Kandinsky, and Richter. K21 features large-scale installations including Tomas Saraceno’s walkable net sculpture ‘in orbit’ suspended 25 meters above the museum floor (advance booking required, 20-minute slots). Combined ticket: 16 EUR. Open Tuesday through Friday 10:00-18:00, weekends 11:00-18:00. The K20 is a 5-minute walk from the Altstadt.
MedienHafen (Media Harbour)
The MedienHafen is Düsseldorf’s former Rhine port reinvented as an architectural showcase. Frank Gehry’s three twisted Neuer Zollhof buildings (1999) anchor the district with their white plaster, stainless steel, and brick facades. The area holds advertising agencies, TV studios, and design firms alongside riverside restaurants and bars. The best views are from the Rheinuferpromenade on the opposite bank in the Altstadt. Walking through the district takes 30-45 minutes. The Gehry buildings are at Neuer Zollhof 3. The MedienHafen is a 20-minute walk or a 5-minute tram ride (lines 704, 709) from the Altstadt.
Nordpark and Japanese Garden
The Nordpark at Kaiserswerther Strasse covers 36.6 hectares in the north of the city. The Japanese Garden within the park, a gift from Düsseldorf’s Japanese community in 1975, is one of Europe’s finest with a traditional teahouse, koi pond, stone lanterns, and meticulously maintained pines and maples. The garden is at its best in spring (April-May, cherry blossoms and azaleas) and autumn (October, maple colors). The Nordpark also holds the Aquazoo Löbbecke Museum (10 EUR, open daily 10:00-18:00), a combined aquarium and natural history museum. Entry to the park and Japanese Garden is free. Tram U78 or U79 to Nordpark/Aquazoo.
